Gender and age do not influence the ability to work.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Workplace Psychology
• Human Resources Management

Background:

• Work capacity is influenced by a complex interplay of physical, environmental, and psychosocial factors, alongside individual characteristics and occupational demands.
• Understanding how demographic factors like gender and age affect work capacity is crucial for effective workplace management and employee well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between work capacity, gender, and age among employees at a higher education institution.
• To analyze the perception of work ability across different genders and age demographics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 197 employees from a higher education institution.
• Work capacity was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI).
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and ANOVA tests.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in work ability were found concerning gender or age.
• A notable increase in the variability of Work Ability Index (WAI) scores was observed among older workers.
• Perceptions of work ability did not significantly differ between male and female participants.

Conclusions:

• Gender and age, as examined in this study, do not significantly impact overall work capacity.
• While overall capacity may not differ, age-related factors contribute to a wider range of work ability perceptions in older employees.
• The findings suggest a need for further research into age-specific factors influencing the variability of work ability.